Shloka 21

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

दत्ते जलाञ्जलौ पश्चाद्विदध्याद्दन्तधावनम् / त्यजन्ति गोत्रिणः सर्वे दिनानि नव काश्यप

Transliteration

datte jalāñjalau paścādvidadhyāddantadhāvanam / tyajanti gotriṇaḥ sarve dināni nava kāśyapa

Translation

Sau khi dâng jalāñjali (lễ nước), rồi hãy thực hiện việc làm sạch răng. Hỡi Kāśyapa, tất cả những người cùng gotra đều kiêng giữ (các sinh hoạt thường lệ) trong chín ngày.

Word by Word

• datte: gives
• datte: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person, Singular

• jalāñjalau: in/after the water-offering (añjali of water)
• jalāñjalau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक)

• vidadhyāt: should perform/arrange
• vidadhyāt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• danta-dhāvanam: tooth-cleaning
• danta-dhāvanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: danta + dhāvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa = dantānāṃ dhāvanam; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• tyajanti: they abstain/avoid
• tyajanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (त्यज् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural (बहुवचन)

• gotriṇaḥ: kinsmen of the same lineage
• gotriṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gotrin (गोत्रिन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies gotriṇaḥ

• dināni: days
• dināni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural (बहुवचन)

• nava: nine
• nava: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective; Neuter, Accusative, Plural; agrees with dināni

• kāśyapa: O Kāśyapa
• kāśyapa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāśyapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra; addressing 'Kāśyapa')

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately after jalāñjali; nine-day gotra observance thereafter

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: After jalāñjali, perform dantadhāvana; gotra members observe a nine-day restriction/abstinence period.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃskāra and communal dharma: purification is both bodily (cleaning) and social (shared observance) to stabilize the household after death.

Application: Sequence rites properly (offering → cleansing); coordinate gotra-family observances for nine days, adjusting daily worship/celebrations accordingly.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: post-offering cleansing setting (home/ghāṭa implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: nine/ten-day impurity and gotra observances discussed in adjacent funeral-rite passages (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Kāśyapa
• Gotra (lineage group)

FAQs

What is the importance of jalāñjali and dantadhāvana in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse places water-offering (jalāñjali) and subsequent ritual hygiene (dantadhāvana) as ordered steps, emphasizing śauca (purity/discipline) while performing post-death observances.

How does this verse describe family duties after a death in the Garuda Purana?

It states that all gotra-members observe a nine-day abstention period, indicating a shared lineage-based responsibility and restraint during the immediate post-death phase.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain orderly, respectful mourning practices—prioritize cleanliness, self-restraint, and coordinated family observance during the initial days after a death.